Read recent news articles featuring Councilmember Pete Furman, as well as his published opinion pieces.
Council talks tax trends and STR revenue share
“I keep trying to look at this data to understand the impact of short-term rentals on our community,” Councilman Pete Furman said, examining a graph showing historical changes in revenues. “Why can’t we get this split up between short-term rentals and hotels?”
Continue Reading Council talks tax trends and STR revenue share
Council defers Jablow’s OHV ban pending negotiations
“In a paragraph in the agreement, there’s talk about vehicles monitored by GPS,” Councilman Pete Furman said. “What’s the status of the discussions in the agreement here with our rental companies about whether they are willing to step up and do private enforcement of their private agreements with customers for speed limits?”
Continue Reading Council defers Jablow’s OHV ban pending negotiations
Commend Sedona City Council for its ordinance on new ordinances
We would like to commend Sedona City Councilman Pete Furman and Councilwoman Kathy Kinsella for getting their ordinance on ordinances passed de facto unanimously at the July 11 meeting and thereby requiring new city laws to be read twice.
Continue Reading Commend Sedona City Council for its ordinance on new ordinances
City council increases proposed budget to $85.6 million
“I do ponder a question about whether we should pursue an independent analysis of employee satisfaction somehow, if there isn’t something we’re missing,” Furman said.
Continue Reading City council increases proposed budget to $85.6 million
City council offers to fund 80% of Visitor Center
“I’m not comfortable with an 80-20 split,” Furman added, noting that among the service provider contracts the council had awarded earlier at the same meeting, “nobody is even over 60%” for city funding. However, he said he would agree to 80% funding for one year in a spirit of partnership.
Continue Reading City council offers to fund 80% of Visitor Center
Sedona considers restricting off-road vehicle access on city streets, highways
“I might remind all of us that the Goldwater Institute and the Arizona state legislature didn’t think short-term rentals would be harmful in any way either,” Furman said.
Continue Reading Sedona considers restricting off-road vehicle access on city streets, highways
Council votes to form tourism board, emulate Thelma & Louise
“We’re moving way too fast to create a structure that will be very difficult to alter if we decide a different structure is needed,” Furman advised. “We need much more time and thought about the structure, the mission.”
Continue Reading Council votes to form tourism board, emulate Thelma & Louise
Arabella Spa to move forward after 4-3 approval
“I don’t know why we would think it’s a good idea,” Councilman Pete Furman said, arguing that the application did not meet the city’s Land Development Code requirements because of the absence of a proper traffic analysis.
Continue Reading Arabella Spa to move forward after 4-3 approval
Why Sedona’s Tourism Bureau Fired Its City Over Destination Marketing
“It got to the point where somebody had to make a bold decision,” said city councilman Peter Furman. “The chamber pulled the trigger first.”
Continue Reading Why Sedona’s Tourism Bureau Fired Its City Over Destination Marketing
City Council Debates Freedom of Speech
“I would rather be on the side of free speech than not,” Furman said.